Sommaire
In addition to the beautiful Roman remains that are inaccessible today, one must also imagine the fortified village in the Middle Ages, which grew up and gathered around the castle and a defensive wall. Totally deserted at the end of the 14th century, new farmers settled there at the end of the 15th century to ensure a new prosperity...
They were Vaudois and it was here that the bloody massacre of the Vaudois began in 1545. A path of remembrance remains from this terrible past with, at the top, some remains of the castrum.
Mérindol is a symbolic village on the Historical Route of the Vaudois; it is still today the guardian of a memory that marked Provence and more particularly the Luberon in the 16th century: the history of the Vaudois.
It is thanks to this ideal situation that the Regional Natural Park decided to set up an ornithological observatory on the banks of the Durance.
Mérindol took on its current appearance in the 18th century. Some buildings mark the village: the church and its unique Saracen bulb in the region, the temple or the centre for the evocation of Waldensian history called the Muse.
The Waldenses (aka Waldesians) massacre in Luberon
The Waldenses followed Valdès' theories (Pierre Valdo). He created in 1170 a religious movement called "Les Pauvres de Lyon" (the Poors of Lyon).
The 1545 massacre in Mérindol was ordered by the Parliament of Aix against the Waldenses, who had then rallied the Protestant religion. In only five days, 3000 people were slaughtered and 24 villages devastated, including Mérindol and Cabrières d'Avignon.
Villages of Luberon
Our villages in Luberon are gorgous, you will love to stroll through the cobbled streets. Take the time to visit and discover all these villages Luberon and Provence are so famous for!
Must-sees
Have you ever visited the abbey of Notre Dame de Sénanque? Or the village of Les Bories in Gordes? No, so come quick and discover all the remarkable sites Luberon has to offer.
Summer Tours & Walks 2024
Destination Luberon Tourist Office offers many possibilities for guided tours in the Luberon, a picturesque region known for its landscapes, its historical heritage and its famous perched villages.
Original experiences
Discover authentic Provence: 2CV drives, donkey rides, private tours, horse-drawn carriage excursions and solex hire. Enjoy unforgettable experiences!
Thematic tours
Escape from your daily life and set off to discover the most beautiful places in the Luberon. Thematic tours and discovery visits of our villages and their heritage.